Microsoft Sharepoint

Microsoft Sharepoint Server Backup

When Amanda is configured and licensed for MS Sharepoint backup, Amanda uses the Microsoft Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to back up the Sharepoint 2007/WSS 3.0 databases, services and logs.

ZWC backs up and restores MS Sharepoint at database level. ZWC backs up sharepoint data that is stored in the SQL database, such as

• Configuration and Admin databases
• Content and configuration data for Web Applications,
• Any third-party databases that are registered with Sharepoint 2007
• Shared services databases in Sharepoint 2007
• Both Office Search & Help Search index files

ZWC does not support transaction log based backup and performs only full backups of SQL server databases.

Since ZWC supports VSS based backup, Sharepoint backup of individual objects such as Site collection, Web site, List/Document library, Document library folder, Document library file, List item, Version is not supported. Therefore files such as the Sharepoint installation directory, IIS metabase information, Website application pool directory, etc require separate backup set configuration for backup.

ZWC currently supports only single server farm (standalone) configuration. In other words, the front-end server and the database server must reside on the same machine.

Please contact Zmanda support team for information on how to implement Multi-server Microsoft Sharepoint server farm (in other words, index server(s), SQL server(s), front end web server(s) on different servers).

Requirements for Sharepoint Server Backup

These instructions assume you have already installed and licensed the Amanda Enterprise server, Zmanda Windows Client, and the Sharepoint Server being backed up. Because the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) takes care of any necessary file locking and transaction log pruning during the backup process, the remaining requirements are simple: :

• Make sure that your versions of Windows and Sharepoint Server conform to the tested platforms listed on the Zmanda Network Supported Platforms page.

• The Volume Shadow Copy Service must be enabled. Although the Volume Shadow Service is enabled by default, it may have been turned off after Windows installation. To ensure that it is running:

1. Right-click the My Computer icon and choose Manage from the popup menu.
2. Expand the Services and Applications tree and locate the Volume Shadow Copy Service.
3. If it is not started, do so.
4. If necessary, change the General Properties to make the Startup Type Automatic rather than Manual.

• Windows SharePoint Services VSS Writer service must be enabled and running. To enable and run the sharepoint writer follow the steps described in  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb447591.aspx.

• Windows Sharepoint Services VSS Writer service must run under the admin app pool account, which is the Network Service account in a basic installation of Windows SharePoint Services.

• Run the command vssadmin list writers at the Windows command prompt and check that the state of the Sharepoint Server Writer is stable. If not (or if there are any VSS errors), restart the Volume Shadow Copy Service and the Sharepoint Services VSS Writer service.

Configuring Microsoft Sharepoint Backups from the ZMC Backup What Page

The Zmanda Client for Windows uses snapshots for Sharepoint server backups. The procedure described below only backs up the Sharepoint database mentioned above.

Create a dedicated backup set for each Microsoft Sharepoint Server you intend to back up. On the Backup What page you are prompted to select what type of object you want to back up. Choose Microsoft Sharepoint, and the following options are displayed:

Host Name

The hostname or IP address of the machine running the Sharepoint server you intend to back up.

Encryption and Compression

Select these options as desired. They are described in more detail here.

Advanced Options

Extended attributes are always backed up on Windows clients regardless of application. For details on the Estimate option, see the Backup Where Advanced Options help.

After you have set the options, click Add. Depending on the Mode of Operation (Planned or Live) the changes are added to the list and/or actually made live on the server; you can then configure the backup set just as you would any other by setting the options on Backup Where, Backup How, and Backup When, etc.

Please make sure no other backup software is scheduled to run at the same time as the Amanda SharePoint server backup.

Configuring Microsoft Sharepoint Server Restores from the ZMC Restore What Page

It is very important to develop a recovery plan to minimize lost productivity in the event of a server crash, database corruption, accidental  deletion of web applications, etc.

It is important to note that ZWC performs a point in time restore of Sharepoint server data. Currently, ZWC does not support Roll-forward restore. If the restore is targeted to the original location, changes done after backup will
be lost.

Sharepoint databases can be restored to the same server or to an alternate server depending on the Recovery plan decided by the Administrator.

When you have selected the disk list entry that includes the Sharepoint databases for restore, the Restore What page displays a dialog that lets you specify what to restore, where you should select the host database(s) and log file(s) that need to be restored on.

The Restore->Where page lets you select the target server by filling in the Destination Host. If the restore is targeted to the original location, leave the Destination Directory field blank.